ISPS Code: US Coast Guard Team Says There Is No Embargo On Nigeria

As expected, the team from the United State Coast Guard was in the country last week and at the end of the inspection, its leader; by Mr Tivo Romero allayed fears of any imminent blacklist of Nigerian ports by the United States of America (USA) on account of any default in the implementation of the International Ships and Ports facility Security (ISPS) code.
A source that was with the team throughout its week long inspection of various facilities in Lagos ports confirmed to our correspondent last weekend that the team inspected six terminals and facilities.

As expected, the team from the United State Coast Guard was in the country last week and at the end of the inspection, its leader; by Mr Tivo Romero allayed fears of any imminent blacklist of Nigerian ports by the United States of America (USA) on account of any default in the implementation of the International Ships and Ports facility Security (ISPS) code.
A source that was with the team throughout its week long inspection of various facilities in Lagos ports confirmed to our correspondent last weekend that the team inspected six terminals and facilities.
According to him, even though they still had reservations about some places and some things, they never-the-less acknowledged the fact that there has been a high degree of improvement since its last visit.
They reportedly expressed their determination to work with Designated Authourity (DA) for the ISPS code to see to it that the remaining areas where there were still lapses were assisted to comply.
“They said categorically that there was truth in the serial media report that America would ban its ships from coming into Nigerian ports, they also promised to work with NIMASA”, our source disclosed.
Even though, the media was completely shut out of the visit, Shipping Position Daily confirmed that  the same assurance that it would not recommend any ban was given when the Mr Tivo Romero-led team paid a courtesy visit on the minister of transport; Senator Idris Umar earlier.
The minister had told the US Coast Guard team that contrary to insinuations that Nigeria was not complying, the nation had actually begun the implementation of the
He had stressed that implementation of the code became necessary so that Nigeria’s ports system would be safe and secured for the benefit of Nigerians and foreign investors in the maritime industry.
“Nigeria is a country that depends solely on oil; making the ports safe is of paramount interest to the present administration”, he was quoted to have told his visitors.
Our source confirmed that, some terminals were still scored low, but added that the team was impressed with the security the level of compliance at the oil facilities that they visited.
“As a matter of fact, they expressed satisfaction that Nigeria has moved forward from what they saw when they came”, he stated.